Packaging system for including digital media disks with consumer products

ABSTRACT

A packaging system for use in attaching digital media disks such as DVD disks to plastic containers of consumer products such as molded plastic beverage jugs. The packaging system enables the transfer and distribution of digital media disks to consumers as promotional items. In one form, the packaging system includes a shallow depression built into a wall of a container, a digital media disk positioned in the depression and a label extending across said disk for retaining said disk in place within the depression. Alternatively, the packaging system may include ridges, posts or tabs that are built into the container and used to secure or help secure the digital media disk in place either in a depression or in a partially enclosed cavity on the container formed by the ridges or tabs themselves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to product packaging and to the packaging of promotional items for distribution with consumer products.

Digital media disks provide an excellent vehicle for delivering audiovisual content to consumers and for promoting the sale of consumer products or providing advertising for the sale of consumer products. For example, DVD disks are often now included in cereal boxes as a way of promoting the sale of the cereal by providing interesting cinematic material on the media disks such as episodes of classic television shows. In such cases the DVD may be simply dropped in the cereal box or may be attached to the inside of the front of the cereal box where they are viewable through a small transparent window cut into the box. However, it is more difficult to include digital media disks with products in plastic containers such as jugs or jars of the type ordinarily used for holding beverages and the like. The digital media disks may be glued to the side or top of such containers but the disks then interfere with efficient product handling procedures and are subject to becoming dislodged or damaged as the product is transported, distributed and prepared for sale to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a packaging system for attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD disk to a consumer product container such as a plastic beverage jug and for thereby promoting the sale of the product and distributing digital media disks to consumers as promotional items. In one embodiment, the packaging system includes a shallow depression built into a component such as a wall of the container, a digital media disk inserted into said depression and a label extending across said disk and component for retaining said disk in place in said depression. In other embodiments ridges, posts, or tabs are built into the component of the container and used to secure or help secure the digital media disk in place either within a depression or in a partially enclosed cavity formed by the ridges or tabs themselves. The digital media disk may be secured in a compact protective sleeve. The label covering the disk usually includes printed material and may include a window for viewing the disk. Packaging the digital media disk with the consumer product enables the digital media disk to be transferred to the consumer through the retail distribution chain as a promotional item either for promoting sale of the product or promoting other products of interest to consumers. After purchase of the product the consumer may conveniently remove the disk from the product and the disk and use a disk player to view or listen to the material recorded on the disk.

One exemplary embodiment comprises a shallow depression built into the wall of a beverage jug, a mini-DVD disk and a label extending across the disk and adhered to the wall for retaining the disk in place within the depression. Another exemplary embodiment includes a depression built into the wall of a beverage jug, a mini-DVD disk and a set of small tabs attached to the sidewall of the depression for engaging and holding the disk in place. Alternatively, a post positioned at the center of the depression may be used to engage the central aperture of the disk and thereby hold the disk in place. A paper or plastic label extending across the disk also may be used to further help retain the disk in place.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD to a product container such as a beverage jug or plastic food jar in a convenient and inexpensive manner as a promotional item.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk to a consumer product container so that it is firmly attached and will not become dislodged or damaged during product distribution and handling and yet is easily accessible for use and playback by the consumer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packaging system for removably attaching a digital media disk such as a DVD to a product container so that the digital media disk may be transferred to the consumer through the retail product chain associated with the product in order to thereby promote sales of the product or supply advertising promoting the sale of other products to retail consumers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a jug for containing liquids such as beverages including a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD removably mounted within a depression on one wall of the jug in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD secured in a protective sleeve and mounted in a depression on a jug for containing liquids in accordance with an alternative form of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the of a mini-DVD disk secured in a sleeve and mounted on a jug in accordance with the alternative form of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partially broken away plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted onto a jug for containing liquids in accordance with a another alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a set of ridges is used to help secure the disk in place.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6 of a digital media disk as mounted on the jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 6 in which a set of ridges is used to help secure the disk.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted in a depression on a jug for containing liquids in accordance with a yet further alternative embodiment of the present invention in which a post and tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in which a post and tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along lines 10-10 of FIG. 8 of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 8 in which a post and tabs are used in securing the disk in place.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD having a non-standard shape as mounted onto a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in which ridges are used to help retain the disk in place (FIGS. 6-7).

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a close up of a digital media disk such as a mini-DVD secured in a sleeve as mounted onto a jug for containing liquids in accordance with an additional embodiment of the present invention in which a set of extended tabs is used to help secure the disk in place.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12 of a digital media disk as mounted on a jug in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 12 in which extended tabs are used in helping to secure the disk in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the Jug 10 is generally rounded in shape, is somewhat taller in height than it is in width, and is slightly broader at its bottom than at its top. The jug 10 includes four sides or walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 (24 and 26 are on the reverse side and are not shown in FIG. 1). The jug 10 also includes a handle 12 positioned toward its top, a spout 14 positioned at its top having a removable cap 16 and a printed product label 18 describing its contents that is adhered along its side 22. The jug 10 is blow-molded and constructed of polyethylene plastic although the jug 10 may be otherwise constructed from other kinds of plastic materials. The jug 10 includes a shallow circular depression 28 in its side 20 in which a digital media disk 30 such as a mini-DVD is mounted onto the jug 10 underneath a paper label 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the label 32 is circular and extends all the way over and across the depression 28 and overlaps with the wall 20 outside of the depression 28. The label 32 is attached to the side 20 of the jug 10 by the adhesive layer 36 extending around the perimeter of the label 32 between the label 32 and the side 20. The depression 28 includes and is bounded by a radial sidewall 34. The digital media disk 30 resides in the depression 28 inside or inward from the sidewall 34 and underneath the label 32. The label 32 includes a circular aperture 40 in its center and a transparent circular window 42 located under and around the aperture 40 through which the media disk 30 can be viewed from outside the jug 10. The digital media disk 30 is further held in position within the depression 28 by a dab 44 of adhesive located between the label 32 and the disk 30. The label 32 serves to retain the disk 30 in place on the jug 10 in the depression 28 flush with the side 20 of the jug 10. This mounting arrangement fixes the digital media disk 30 in place and secures the disk 30 to the jug 10 during the process of transportation, handling and display ordinarily associated with the distribution and sale of the jug and its contents as a consumer product. Further, the mounting arrangements covers the disk 30 to protect it from contamination and help preserve the environment of the jug 10 as hygienic.

In practice the digital media disk 30 is removably mounted onto the jug 10 during the manufacturing process at the time the jug 10 is filled and accompanies the filled jug 10 into the retail chain of distribution associated with the jug 10 and its contents. The digital media disk 30 is generally selected as a promotional item to attract the attention of consumers and to accelerate sales of jug 10 and its contents. Alternatively or additionally, the digital media disk 10 may include advertising material intended to promote the sale of other consumer products that are not related to the contents of the jug 10 which may be of interest to the consumer. In the preferred embodiment the jug 10 contains a beverage such as milk and the digital media disk is a mini-DVD and includes cinematic material such as episodes of older but still popular TV shows. Alternatively, the mini-DVD may include advertising for other consumer products such as electronics, appliances or automobiles or may even include demos of video games. After a consumer purchasers the beverage jug 10, he or she may remove the disk 30 by peeling away or tearing the label 32 and pulling out the disk 30. The material on the disk 30 may then be viewed at home by the consumer using a conventional digital media player such as a DVD player. In cases where advertising content is included on the digital media disk 30, the material on the disk may be linked to or include other promotional programs such as offers of discounts. Coupling the digital media disk to the jug 10 provides a ready and inexpensive method of distributing audiovisual material including both entertainment and information to a wide range of consumers.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a jug 10 is again shown as including a shallow circular depression 28 in its side 20 in which a digital media disk 30 such as a mini-DVD is mounted onto the jug 10 underneath a paper label 32. However, in this case the disk 30 is secured in a protective sleeve 46 of thin and highly flexible clear plastic having flaps 48 that may be drawn back to conveniently release the disk 30 from the sleeve 46. The label 32 is circular and extends all the way across the depression 28. The label 32 is attached to the side 20 of the jug 10 by the adhesive layer 36 extending around the perimeter of the label 32 between the label 32 and the side 20. The depression 28 includes and is bounded by a radial sidewall 34. The digital media disk 30 resides in the depression 28 inside from the sidewall 34 and underneath the label 32. The label 32 serves to retain the disk 30 in place on the jug 10 in the depression 28 flush with the side 20 of the jug 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the jug 10 now includes a set of three ridges located on the wall 20 and projecting slightly upward from its surface defining a shallow partially enclosed crater-like cavity 55. The ridges 56 are spaced apart and radially positioned on the wall 20 to extend along the edges of a digital media disk. First and second digital media disks 50 and 52 are secured in a protective sleeve 54 on the wall 20 inside of the ridges 56. A circular paper label 58 including printing extends over the disks 50 and 52 and sleeve 54 so as to overlap with the wall 20 and is attached around its perimeter to the wall 20 by the adhesive layer 60 outward of the ridges 56. The ridges 56 and the label 58 serve to removably retain the disks 50 and 52 and sleeve 54 in place on the wall 20. After a consumer purchasers the beverage jug 10, he or she may remove the disks 50 and 52 for use by peeling away or tearing the label 58 and thereafter removing the disks 50 and 52 from the sleeve 54.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the wall 20 of the jug 10 now includes a shallow circular depression 62 having a radial sidewall 64, a set of three small tabs 66 extending inward of the depression 62 from the upper edge of the sidewall 64 and a short post 72 positioned in the center of the depression 62. The tabs 66 are equally spaced apart and radially positioned on the sidewall 64 to engage the outer edge 76 of a digital media disk 70. The post 72 is centrally positioned in the depression 62 to engage the inner edge 74 of the digital media disk 70. The post 72 is sized so that the disk may be fitted or press-fitted over the post 72 and to that end may have a slightly larger diameter at its upper end 78 to help in gently securing the disk 70 onto the post 72. A circular plastic label 68 extends all the way over and across the depression 62 and is adhered to the wall 20 outside of the depression 62 by the adhesive layer 66. The label 68 is in this case transparent allowing the disk to be visually inspected while mounted within the depression 62. The digital media disk 70 is retained in the depression 62 by the tabs 66, the post 72 and the label 68. However, depending on the application, the label 68 may not be required to help retain the disk 70 in place and the disk 70 may be held solely by the post 72 and tabs 66. In all cases, the digital media disk 70 may thereby be removably retained in place on and flush with the wall 20. After a consumer purchasers the liquid containing jug 10, he or she may remove the disk 70 for use by peeling away or tearing the label 68 and popping the disk 70 out from the depression 62 and, in the event no label is used the disk 70, the disk 70 may be simply popped out from the depression 62.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a mini-DVD disk 80 having a truncated shape is secured in rectangular sleeve 82. A rectangular paper label 86 extends all the way over and across the disk 80 and overlaps with the wall 20. A set of three upwardly extending ridges 84 are positioned at the edges of the sleeve 82 and define a shallow partially enclosed cavity 85 having three (partial) sides. The ridges 84 and the label 86 serve to removably retain the disk 80 and sleeve 82 in place on the wall 20. The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 11 is meant to illustrate that in accordance with the present invention the elements for coupling a disk to as jug may assume different sizes and shapes depending on design choices and the nature of the application at hand.

Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, the jug 10 now includes a set of three extended tabs 94 located on the wall 20. The tabs 94 are spaced apart and radially positioned on the wall 20 to extend along the edges of a digital media disk 90. The digital media disk 90 is secured in a protective sleeve 92 along the wall 20 inside of the tabs 94. A circular paper label 96 including printing extends over the disk 90 and sleeve 92 so as to overlap with the wall 20 and is attached around its perimeter to the wall 20 by the adhesive layer 98 outward of the tabs 92. The tabs 92 grapple the outer edges 88 of the disk 90 by extending up and over the outer edges 88 of the disk 90 when the disk 90 is secured in place. The tabs 94 and the label 96 serve to removably retain the disk 90 and sleeve 92 in place on the wall 20 although, depending on the application, the label 96 may not in this case be required to help retain the disk 90 in place. After a consumer purchases the beverage jug 10, he or she may remove the disk 90 for use by peeling away or tearing the label 96, pulling the disk 90 out from the tabs 94 and removing the disk 90 from the sleeve 92 for playback of the recorded material.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments for which implementation details have been described, it should be recognized that there are other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the claims and the invention is not intended to be limited to the details described with respect to the forms and embodiments disclosed. For example, the digital media disk retention and mounting system illustrated and described with respect to attachment of a disk onto the side of a jug may be used with other types of containers or jars made by other processes such as extrusion molding, stretch blow molding or thermal forming using other types of plastics such as Polyvinyl Chloride, Polypropylene, Polystyrene or Polyethylene Terephthalate. In particular, the present invention may for instance be used for removably mounting a mini-DVD on the lid of a cylindrical jar such as a typical peanut butter container. The lid of the jar would in such a case be formed to include a shallow depression extending out from its center in which the disk would reside and over which a label would extend over the disk to help retain the disk in place, in addition to other elements of the present invention that may be present. 

1. A packaging system for use in conjunction with containers such as beverage jugs for distributing digital media, comprising: a) a container having molded plastic component having a built in shallow circular depression; b) a digital media disk fitted and recessed into said depression; and c) a label adhered to said wall of said beverage jug and extending over and across said digital media disk to removably retain said disk in place.
 2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein: said digital media disk comprises a DVD disk.
 3. The packaging system of claim 2, further including: a protective sleeve for holding said disk, and an adhesive layer extending between said disk sleeve and said label for helping to hold said disk in place within said depression.
 4. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein: said container comprises a jug of high-density blow-molded polyethelene adapted for containing beverages.
 5. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein: said label includes a transparent window for viewing said DVD disk.
 6. A packaging system for use in conjunction with beverage jugs for distributing digital media, comprising: a) a molded plastic jug having one or more ridges radially positioned along one of its walls and defining a partially enclosed cavity along said wall; b) a digital media disk fitted and recessed in between said ridges in said cavity; and c) a label adhered to said wall of said beverage jug and extending across said digital media disk in between said ridges for removably retaining said disk in place.
 7. The packaging system of claim 6, further including: a protective sleeve for holding said disk.
 8. The packaging system of claim 7, further including: an adhesive layer extending between said disk sleeve and said wall for helping to hold said disk in place in said cavity.
 9. The packaging system of claim 6, wherein: said jug is a high-density blow-molded polyethelene beverage jug.
 10. The packaging system of claim 6, wherein: said label includes a transparent window for viewing said disk.
 11. A packaging system for use in conjunction with beverage jugs for distributing digital media, comprising: a) a molded plastic jug having a wall on one side; b) a plurality of tabs radially positioned along said wall for grappling the outer edges of a digital media disk; and c) a digital media disk fitted into said cavity and removably held in place by said tabs.
 12. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein: said disk comprises a mini-DVD disk.
 13. The packaging system of claim 11, further including: a protective sleeve for holding said disk.
 14. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein: said jug is a high-density blow-molded polyethylene beverage jug.
 15. The packaging system of claim 13, further including: a label extending across said disk and adhered to said wall.
 16. A packaging system for use in conjunction with liquid holding jugs for distributing digital media, comprising: a) a molded plastic jug having a wall; b) means built into said wall for retaining a digital media disk deployed in a protective sleeve on said sidewall; c) a protective sleeve for holding a digital media disk; and d) a digital media disk having a centrally positioned aperture deployed in said sleeve and held in place on said sidewall by said means for retaining.
 17. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein: said means for retaining includes a label adhered to said wall of said beverage jug and extending all the way across said digital media disk to removably retain said disk in place.
 18. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein: said means for retaining includes one or more ridges radially positioned along one of its walls and defining a partially enclosed cavity along said wall for holding said disk.
 19. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein: said means for retaining includes: a post mounted on said wall and adapted for fitting in the aperture in said disk.
 20. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein: said digital media disk comprises a mini-DVD disk.
 21. The packaging system of claim 16, further including: a protective sleeve for holding said disk, and said wall includes a shallow depression for holding said disk and sleeve.
 22. The packaging system of claim 16, wherein: said jug is a high-density blow molded polyethylene jug adapted for containing beverages.
 23. The packaging system of claim 17, wherein: said label includes a transparent window for viewing said disk.
 24. A method of distributing digital media to consumers as promotional items, comprising the steps of: a) removably attaching a digital media disk having special entertainment content to a wall of a container containing a beverage jug intended for sale to consumers; b) transferring said beverage jug and attached digital media disk into the ordinary channels of commerce for the retail sale of beverages in jugs; and c) promoting the purchase of the beverage by allowing consumers to select the beverage on the basis of the special entertainment content of the digital media disk attached to the beverage jug which can be accessed by removing and playing the disk.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein: said step of removably attaching said disk includes the steps of: inserting said disk into a depression in a sidewall of said jug, and sealing said disk into said depression with a label removably adhered across said disk and onto said sidewall.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein: said step of removably attaching said disk includes the steps of: inserting said disk into a partially enclosed cavity defined by raised ridges on a sidewall of said jug, and sealing said disk in said cavity with a label removably adhered across said disk and onto said sidewall.
 27. The method of claim 24, wherein: said step of removably attaching said disk includes the steps of: inserting said disk into a depression in said wall of said jug, and retaining said disk in place in said depression with tabs which engage the outer edge of said disk.
 28. The method of claim 24, wherein: said digital media disk comprises a DVD.
 29. The method of claim 24, further including the additional step of: securing said disk in a protective sleeve, and removably adhering said sleeve to the wall of said jug.
 30. The method of claim 24, wherein: said beverage jug comprises a high-density blow-molded polyethylene jug.
 31. The packaging system of claim 25, wherein: said label includes a transparent window for viewing said disk.
 32. The packaging system of claim 24, wherein: said step of removably attaching said disk includes the steps of: inserting said disk into a depression in said wall of said jug, and press fitting said disk onto a post built into the wall of said jug.
 33. A method of manufacturing a plastic beverage jug having walls and including a digital media disk removably attached for use as a promotional item, comprising the steps of: a) inserting said digital media disk secured in a protective sleeve into a depression in one of the walls on said jug; b) retaining said disk and sleeve on said sidewall in said disk; and c) sealing said digital media disk and protective sleeve in place on said sidewall by adhering a label over said disk and sleeve and onto said sidewall.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein: said step of retaining said disk on said sidewall includes the step of adhering said sleeve onto said sidewall.
 35. The method of claim 33, wherein: said step of retaining said disk on said sidewall includes the step of press fitting said disk into a cavity defined by a set of radially positioned ridges.
 36. The method of claim 33, wherein: said jug is a high-density blow-molded polyethylene jug, and said digital media disk is a DVD.
 37. A packaging system for use in conjunction with food and beverage containers for use in distributing digital media as promotional material, comprising: a) a molded plastic container having a shallow disk-shaped depression in one of its components; b) a short post mounted on said sidewall in the center of said depression for removably retaining a digital media disk; and c) a digital media disk having a center aperture which is mounted on said post and fitted and recessed into said depression.
 38. The packaging system of claim 37, further including: a label adhered to said wall of said container and extending across said digital media disk for assisting in removably retaining said disk in place.
 39. The packaging system of claim 37, further including: a protective sleeve for holding said disk, and an adhesive layer extending between said disk sleeve and said wall for helping to hold said disk in place in said depression.
 40. The packaging system of claim 37, wherein: said container comprises a jug of a high-density blow-molded polyethylene adapted for containing beverages.
 41. The packaging system of claim 38, wherein: said label includes a transparent window for viewing said disk.
 42. The packaging system of claim 37, wherein: said digital media disk is a mini-DVD disk. 